#but transitioning is not at all related to these terms to be clear.

[jamesunderwater]

Hello!! I was just wondering if there is a difference between being transmasc and being a trans guy? I tried searching for it but other than knowing that there seems to be a difference, I couldn't really put my finger on what exactly makes them different from eachother - I thought maybe you might be able to help?? Is it to do with gender expression vs gender identity??

Hey! first, just wanna say that I appreciate you trying to find the answer yourself and then asking for clarification so genuinely.

I couldn't stop myself from giving a few caveats before answering your specific question, so bear with me.

Language around gender identity is tough because it really does mean different things to different people, so questions like "what does transmasc mean?" or "what does it mean to be a trans man?" (and so on) are essentially the same thing as asking, "why do you call yourself a woman?" -- every cis woman is gonna have a different answer to that.

Which is to say, definitely don’t take my answer or any other answers you find on things like this as definitions. If you meet someone who describes themselves as transmasc, what that means to them might be different to what I'm going to say here. And, this isn't me saying to ask every single trans person what the terms they use mean to them. The important information to have is: what is their name, what are their pronouns, and when do they want you to use that name/those pronouns (for safety reasons). But it isn't necessary to know what their gender identity is (especially not based on their pronouns), or what that identity specifically means for them. They might share it, or maybe it's part of some organic conversation that is happening, but in the same way that you don't need to know what being a woman means to a cis woman, you don't need to know what being transmasc (or whatever) means to a trans person.

Okay now that that is out of the way!

I'll also share what my experience of these terms is for some context, but in a more general sense... The terms "transmasc/transfemme" do, kind of, sometimes, indicate gender expression, but they are still also about gender identity, too. Because you wouldn't see a cis gay man who is effeminate describe himself as a transfemme person, and similarly a cis gay woman who presents more masculine might describe herself as masc (or a number of other terms), but wouldn't call herself transmasc.

Really it's more of a catch-all term to indicate that you're trans and what your assigned gender at birth (AGAB) is -- so transmasc, at base level, tells someone I was assigned female at birth (AFAB), and I present as a masculine person. What my actual gender identity is, though, this doesn't tell you at all, and that's where you can have a room full of people who all describe their gender differently, but the term "transmasc" could still be an appropriate term for all those people.

For me, transmasc vs. trans man has been a really important distinction. Because for a long time I just did not see myself as/feel like a man, but I wasn't simply nonbinary, and I definitely wasn't a woman. So the best way to describe myself was a "transmasc person."

I still really love that language and it's probably still the best way to describe me within the confines of binary terminology. But more recently I've settled into the fact that I do also see myself as a man. So, I'm okay now with referring to myself as a trans man. And the term transmasc is still 100% accurate -- it's just that now, it doesn't totally capture the experience I have of feeling like a man.

I hope any of that made sense. The more I tried to explain, the more difficult it became, which I guess is why you had a hard time getting a clear answer with your own research. If any other trans babes want to hop in here, please do. And thanks again for the question, anon, I hope I helped at least a bit!

[vivmaek]

Transits that Enhance Beauty & Attraction

✰ my masterlist

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❦ Venus Hours

Click here to calculate planetary hours. I use planetary hours more so as a life hack, it's not something I would go out of my way to plan my days around. But, Venus hours are definitely worth being taken advantage of. All activities related to beauty, love, and the arts will have an especially heightened effect when occurring during Venus hours. Plan dates during these hours, and partake in beauty routines. Taking selfies and posting them during a Venus hour might result in heightened attention. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❦ Fridays

There's a reason why this is everyone's favorite day of the week. This is the perfect time to engage in pursuits of pleasure. Connecting with people comes easier on Fridays which is why it’s so favorable for social activities. Making an effort to relax is essential. Go shopping so you can buy yourself something beautiful. Eat good food, put effort into your appearance, and listen to music that makes you ponder about love. Wear pink or green if you can. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❦ Venus in the First House

People genuinely look GOOD when Venus is transiting through their first house. It is also natural for people to make adjustments to their appearance during this time frame, and it always serves them well in the end. When Venus is in your first house, you can look forward to a month full of good hair days and clear skin. That alone is usually all it takes to greatly boost one's confidence. Attracting attention, especially the romantic kind, also occurs during this transit. I always have encounters that leave me feeling really good about my appearance when Venus is in my first house. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❦ Neptune in the First House

Getting in touch with yourself allows for your inner beauty to radiate outwards, which is oftentimes the result of this transit. The most beautiful people you know are also always the kindest. Acting on compassion will enhance how attractive you appear to others. An air of mystery tends to hang around people when Neptune is transiting through their first house. It is common to have people yearning and fantasizing about you during this transit. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❦ Venus in the Fifth House

This transit brings a lot of fun into my life. There's always an uptake in invites to social engagements, and I’ve had lots of flings and short term relationships begin under this transit. I also tend to discover a lot of new music when Venus transits through my fifth house. My only advice for this time frame is to take full advantage of it! I think leaning into the spontaneity of this transit results in a carefree attitude. You won’t be caught up in appearances because you’ll be having too much fun to really care. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❦ Neptune in the Tenth House

I’m not going to get into all the situations that may occur during this transit. Neptune transiting through the tenth house doesn’t have much to do with physical beauty and attractiveness. But, it is a good time to try and capture photographs of yourself. You’ll look especially good on camera. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❧ Sun Conjunct / Sextile / Trine Sun

During these transits, people often find themselves feeling lively and rejuvenated. A general sense of excitement and love of life is felt quite deeply. This type of energy brings out the best in people and they glow from the inside out. An excellent time to throw parties and host celebrations. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❧ Sun Conjunct / Sextile / Trine Ascendant

You’ll be hard to miss with the transitioning sun positively aspecting your natal ascendant. The people you encounter during this time will find you especially attractive and will feel energized by your presence. Job interviews and first impressions are favorable under this transit. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❧ Moon Conjunct / Sextile / Trine Mars

Getting in touch with your sexual desires is common with these transits. Lots of passionate feelings arise. Insecurities are unlikely to hold you back, you’ll feel sexy and attractive. Being direct about your feelings will result in positive encounters. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❧ Venus Conjunct / Sextile / Trine Sun

It doesn’t take much for you to feel good when these transits are occurring. You’ll feel beautiful and will receive more attention due to this. Go out and have fun. Spend money. Be affectionate with your friends and loved ones. 

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❧ Venus Conjunct / Sextile / Trine Moon

A sense of security is generated through these transits. You’ll feel charismatic and easy-going. Emotional harmony is reached and affectionate feelings will be increased. Whatever has been causing you stress will dissipate for the time being and your physical appearance will reflect this. Sexual attractiveness is heightened and you’ll find it easy to connect with the more sensual aspects of life. This is an especially favorable time for haircuts.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❧ Venus Conjunct / Sextile / Trine Venus

You’ll be feeling downright gorgeous and will feel a great need to invest in your appearance. The clothing you buy during this time will be in alignment with your style. You might find yourself experiencing a streak of good luck. It seems as though everything comes easy to you when these transits are occurring. People will be especially kind and affectionate towards you, you’ll have many positive social interactions. Focus on the aspects of life that bring you peace during this time so you can use them again when life becomes more chaotic.  

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

❧ Venus Conjunct / Sextile / Trine Ascendant

The only downside that occurs with these transits is having to deal with a sense of laziness. You’ll want to forget all about your responsibilities. Luckily, you’ll be very well received and can get away with more than you normally would under ordinary circumstances. You’ll find yourself stuck, staring into the mirror because you look THAT good. You might catch yourself constantly making adjustments to your appearance. Warmth and affection will follow you throughout daily life. This would be a good time to take a vacation. 

[socialistexan]

What's missing from the "regret rate" number is the reason people regret it. It overwhelmingly usually due to aesthetic reasons or social pressure.

It's extremely rare that a person gets some form of gender affirming surgery and then later realizes they are not transgender and fully detrans (and these people deserve all of our love and support, if anyone knows what it's like to live in the wrong gender it's us). It's even rarer that one of these detrans people go on to join a reactionary movement to try to eliminate trans people, yet they get amplified more than anyone else in society. That 1% of a 1% of a 1%? That's who is being listened to.

I really need cis people to understand how difficult it is to get gender affirming surgery in this country. It takes literal years to even be considered for it.

Cards on the table, I'm in the process right now for getting bottom surgery. I have been hormones for over 2 years. The minimum requirement is 1 year, but that rarely happens. I've had to be evaluated by two different psychiatrists and I'll need to see them again to get a letter saying they cleared me (and they're only good for 1 calendar year). On top of that, I contacted a surgeon for my first initial consultation, but isn't scheduled until October. And that's just the first visit! It takes months after that to even schedule the surgery.

You don't really go through that whole process unless you are extremely sure.

No one, especially not a child, is walking into a gender clinic and walks out same day with hormones, a hysterectomy, a membership card.

But I'll meet this Republican congressman halfway through. You can ban transition related surgery for people under 26 is you ban any and all surgery or medical care that can permanently alter someone in any way. No heart surgery. No life saving amputations. No chemo. (I would say no vaccines, but this is a MAGA Republican we're talking about). Did you know Tylenol if taken too long can cause stomach bleeding and damage you long term? So no Tylenol.

But why stop there? Shoes can give you long lasting foot or back issues, so that's gotta be banned, too. Sunscreen? You're applying a chemical your child so they'll """be healthier"""?? Yeah, right, groomer.

Ugh. I'm just so tired.

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

Something I never hear anyone talk about in the 'why are Young Adults (late teens to early 30s) reading so much Young Adult (teens) fiction These Days' discussion is how surprisingly difficult it can be to transition from kids books to adult fiction.

And I don't mean in terms of content. Forget themes, characters, plots, etc. I'm talking pure practicality.

As a kid, most of the books you read are calibrated to you exactly. Your local library likely has a 'children's' section, and that section is likely split into smaller sub-sections based on age group. 0-5, 5-8, 8-12, teen. A lot of your interests and experiences are pretty easy to guess at based on average developmental stages (eg. most 16-18 year olds will relate to Coming Of Age stories), so it's probably pretty easy for you to walk into a bookshop or library and find a book aimed at you specifically.

But get to 18 (or younger) and start straying into the 'adult' section, and suddenly nothing is calibrated anymore. When people complain that all 'grownup fiction' is about white middle class heterosexual couples going through angsty divorces in their mid-forties, this is what they're complaining about. They can't find books they can personally relate to, or that are about topics that they are interested in.

And yeah, sure, books shouldn't have to be relatable to be good or enjoyable. But there's also nothing wrong with wanting to read a book about young people, when you're young. Or queer people, if you're queer. Or people from your particular culture, religion, or ethnicity.

Even if we ignore the relatability aspect entirely, there's also nothing wrong with wanting to read a fantasy book that isn't just 'Tolkien but drearier' or a sci-fi that wasn't written by some guy in the 1960s who thought that women were just another kind of alien.

The problem is, fundamentally, that finding the books you like amid the haystack is a skill that most people are not being taught.

As a result, when they get past YA and try using the old tricks of just picking up whatever is on the bestseller list at the moment, or whatever their local library is currently touting as their 'book of the week', they frequently end up with something that isn't suited to their tastes.

And maybe they love it and it opens up a whole new genre that they'd never considered, but more often they hate it but feel obliged to slog through because this is a 'grownup book' and they have decided they want to be a 'grownup reader'.

A few times being burned like this, and they come to the conclusion that all adult fiction is boring, and that the people who read it are all either mature geniuses of the type they could only hope to be, or slogging through like they were and only pretending to like it.

Thus they run back to the familiarity of YA—which is fine, to be clear, there's nothing actually wrong with reading YA as an adult— but there's every chance that somewhere on the bookshelves is a potential favourite author of theirs that they will now never know because they were never taught how to find them.

[multidimensionalguidance]

The Astrology Behind: The 27 Club

We already know the dreadful and looming stories behind this phenomenon that occurs the most within the music and entertainment industry. A great number of deaths and tragic events that seemed to follow gifted individuals as a fated promise.

Although we know that a great majority passed away due to drugs and unhealthy lifestyle choices, there's also some that had unexpected accidents. Now, for those who study astrology and understand that every age activates certain houses/themes this will seem like a very clear pattern.

In terms of house profections, during the age of 27 our 4th house lights up like a lightbulb ready to come through with the lessons and experiences that match the natal planets, lord, sign, ruling nakshatra, and transit planets as well.

When we think of scary and dark periods we tend to associate them with the profections years that match the 8th and 12th house ( 19, 23, 31, 35, and so on) under the assumption that the 4th house is just a cozy corner, yet the overwhelming number of individuals who lose their life around the ages that fall into this house is rather shocking.

The 4th house rules our home, heritage, mother, ancestry, childhood, parents, sense of security, inner life, emotions, happiness, nourishment, etc. These are the topics that come to life during those years, and often times, the ones that leave the strongest mark in our lives.

For most individuals reaching the ages of 15 or 27 arrives with harsh realizations and lessons associated to the lack of emotional and physical security that we might have or feel within ourselves or at home. At 15 we freshly enter the teenage experience of feeling like an outsider at home, as if we don't fit or belong with our family anymore, and as if the innocence of childhood feels long gone. This is where we turn to being a "rebel" and start seeking nourishment outside of what we've been taught within the confinements of home.

By the time we circle back into this house at 27, getting closer to the taste of 30 which is ruled by the 7th house (long term relationships, commitment, others, etc), we start to re-live yet again what "home" and "nourishment" truly feels like for us as adults who are more experienced at life than a 15 year old.

We realize that the perceived freedom of our early 20's was an illusion, and that what has shaped us into who we are by that point was everything we experienced within the privacy of our inner or private world. All the traumas created at home or by our parents. All the overwhelming expectations of what a family of our own might feel like, what long term commitment means to us, and how close or far we are from breaking generational wounds.

All of this can feel maddening and make us isolate from the world into our shells, as if turning into the crustaceans that represent the sign of Cancer. Since the turmoil is associated with our deepest parts, being unable to find a peaceful resolution within our stormy oceans can lead us to drowning within our waters. It makes us forget that right after the storm is when the sun comes out to bring joy, happiness, fun, pleasure, and good fortune (5th house profection). It's a turning point for all of us within our journey.

It comes with no surprise for a lot of celebrities whose private lives and inner world are exposed for everyone to see to be driven towards unhealthy coping mechanisms. A path to self destruction. Now, not all cases are alike and in some scenarios its accidents in their homeland or related to water.

At any case, they are difficult situations which threaten our inner safety and sense of security. It shakes our emotional foundations and forces us to build from scratch a real sense of "I'm safe in my body, mind, and the environment that I cohabit with others". It's all about learning how to regulate ourselves and not allowing our traumas to keep us from the good things life has to offer.

I'll use Amy Winehouse as an example:

Her 4th house was ruled by Leo with her Sun and Mercury in Uttara Phalguni sitting there. She had to relive and experience themes related to her fame, father, talent, children, creative, romance, self expression, and how it all tied to the way she handled her 4th house themes.

Uttara Phalguni in particular usually stands out or feels deeply interested in music, dancing and yoga. Aryaman, the deity of Uttara Phalguni nakshatra, is the god of patronage, union and is considered as the chief amongst the ancestors. They are deeply affected and involved in relationships.

One of the symbols that rules this nakshatra is the back legs of the bed or a platform. I'll focus on the latter simply because most of the time its only people who wield some sort of power or gift who get to stand on a platform of any kind. Additionally, they also tend to deal a lot with the karma of the father, and not always on the positive end of it.

She had battled with addictions to alcohol and other substances her entire life, but it only got progressively worse after she met the man who would eventually become her future husband. It was said that shortly after meeting him her personality changed and she started to indulge in other vices, such as cocaine and crack (which he knowingly admitted to introducing to her).

On top of it, her own father who had a heavy influence on her (as it usually is for 99% of Leo's) wasn't supportive towards her health when she needed it the most. It was the behavior of her parents and their tumultuous marriage that shaped the way she perceived home, safety, and nourishment. This is even more noticeable with the ruler of her 4th house falling sitting in its own house.

It was the lack of support from home and damaging patterns that made her repeat the same generational curses which inevitably lead her to drowning in her own inner world. She clearly used substances as a coping mechanism (like most do). A way to escape reality and attempt to find safety, even if it only led to more pain and disregulation.

By the end, her difficulties on dealing with these themes became even more noticeable after she divorced her husband and went on a downward spiral that didn't even allow her to perform.

Her story, specifically around the last moments, shows us how impactful and difficult 4th house profections can truly be. Alike to other artist or famous individuals, by the end of their lives (27) a lot of those themes appear over and over again until they can no longer bare with them or find a peaceful and healthy resolution.

So, if you're currently going through or about to enter this house profection, just remember to take it slow and practice as much emotional regulation as possible. Go near water bodies to relax. Seek help from individuals who can heal your mind, body, and spirit, be it professionally or not. And finally, remember that you are not your childhood traumas or wounds.

Thanks for reading <3

Check out my services and testimonials for personal readings (plus more).

Xox

Mary from multidimensionalguidance

[zahri-melitor]

I am thinking again about how much 'timelines don't exist, canon isn't real, the comics don't keep track so why should I' annoys me, and it's like:-

Generally this is not true, if you're talking about a particular timeline. Pre-Crisis from the Bronze Age onwards is largely coherent, taken as a whole. Post-Crisis is pretty coherent. New 52's problems largely relate to 'what happened prior to #1' more than outright timeline contradictions in the stories between 2011-2016. Rebirth and Infinite Frontier has become more difficult, given that titles reference each other less frequently, but within a title it remains coherent.

Many of the most bumpy timeline issues are when you transition from one canon to another (particularly with regards to titles that got away with running 'across' the reboot, such as NTT or Batwoman or Batman Inc). That's an artefact of reboots giving some titles special leeway as the retcons happened.

What people are usually complaining about is 'something got retconned' rather than 'the books don't know what order events happened in'. Situations like 'explain Donna Troy's backstory' doesn't have a timeline issue; it has a retcon issue in that she now has multiple mutually exclusive backstories to deal with the fact that NTT was allowed to run across COIE while Diana got rebooted, and so on.

There are in fact situations with timeline issues but usually those are in regards to 'untangle the order events happened in during an Event' not big periods of time. Explaining the order of events in Batman RIP and Final Crisis is something that has timeline issues, in terms of 'when did Bruce disappear from Gotham in respect of Final Crisis' and 'when did Talia arrive with Damian' and so on. However, there's no issues with the relationship of 'did these events happen before or after Batman RIP and Final Crisis'. That in itself is clear. Trying to put DC One Million issues in order is a timeline issue. Whether a story took place before or after DC One Million is mostly a case of looking at the issue number.

And adding all of this up: the reason I tend not to have a lot of respect for 'teeheehee DC doesn't care about canon so why should I' in a fic is that whenever people just decide to ignore things and make three things that happened in three separate decades happen simultaneously, they ALSO don't bother to spend any time looking at how this changed events. You know what? I don't care if you want to make Tim 14 for when Jason returns to Gotham. Go right ahead. But if you're going to do that, can you acknowledge you're writing a canon divergence AU and at least GESTURE to which events that ACTUALLY happened when Tim was 14 just got derailed because Jason is back. (Like Underworld Unleashed. You want even more angst/chaos from Bruce? Have Jason turn back up in Gotham immediately after UU)

[wreath-of-leon]

me realizing i can just infodump and repost about my ocs and world on here without worrying cuz my posts only get three likes each time, ALSO I FORGOT TO DRAW HER FRECKLES IN THE FIRST PICTURE IM SORRY:

Svetanya

Svetanya, long for Sveta, is a deer satyr. She's pansexual, her pronouns are she / her, and she's trans (specifically identifying as transfemme, and probably deer-related xenos in a modern!AU). If you really wanna get specific, I think she socially transitioned at a very early age (probably 7 or 8), but doesn't want to medically (or magically) transition. (of course I added magic transition, queer fantasy is supposed to be fun!). In these pictures, she's around her late twenties.

Satyrs often live in very communal environments—lack of an enforced hierarchy, individualism, large, ambiguous family units—the whole shebang. Unlike Atlanticians (Merfolk / Seafolk) and harpies, who get along based on similar hierarchical societies, satyrs do not get along with either on the same basis. Sveta, however, is unique in the sense she was not raised in a communal satyr circle.

Although living amongst satyrs is considerably ideal for a lot of humans, satyrs are often targeted by predator animals like bears or wolves as if they were actually animals. The communal living style, similar to herding behaviors, is useful to avoiding attacks, but not full proof. Not only this but the primarily rural lifestyle relies on the environment, of which several factors can decrease crop yields and production. As a result, living in a satyr herd can be quite difficult and challenging.

Sveta's parents, who acknowledged this significant challenge, were tired of predation. So, as a solution, they decided to integrate into a more urban, human-centric society.

Sveta, growing up within a rigid class structure, adapted personality traits and behaviors unlike any other satyrs. She can be arrogant, ignorant, sardonic, and sometimes vain and self-important. Though not only are these traits informed by her upbringing, but by the people she surrounds herself with. She was taken up by a certain human noble, Aylin Ernheim, impressed with her eye for fashion, and gave her a job as a tailor. Something both her parents were weary about, but allowed.

Aylin, in his neglectfulness, allows Sveta to face the brunt of abuse from other vain, self-important nobles. Although on the outside, she parades herself as bold, confident, and snarky, she's only really kept around as upholstery. She's deeply aware of her class, and thinks of herself as someone who exploited others to get where she is. In other words, a bit of imposter syndrome. Despite her sometimes rude honesty and lack of a filter, she knows where the boundary is because it's made implicitly clear.

Sveta also struggles with objectification. She cares a lot about appearances, and can unhealthily fixate on her body (fur, height, face, hair, antlers, clothes) due to her lack of self-esteem. When stripped of the exterior, she's overwhelmingly quiet, observant, and introspective. A type of quiet that'd make you think she was judging you, but she's really wondering if you're judging her.

Kinda went hard into all the negative aspects of her but she has positive aspects too guys, I promise!!!

Because she feels obligated to do stuff for others, she's very supportive, caring, and sensitive. Even if she's kind of being a brat to you while she does it. She's also witty. Satyrs are usually taught more practical skills in agriculture but her intelligence is purely based on word form rather than movement (also because she's just not strong enough for farm work, VERY fragile in terms of super heavy physical labor like that, and especially because of her antlers which are her pride and joy).

Because of her body image issues, she gets bouts of depression—sort of like seasonal depression—when her antlers annually shed (like real deer!). I wanna draw her when her regrown antlers are short and velvety, i think it'd be cute.

[gaiasgrimoire]

Learning Lenormand - A Beginner's Guide (Pt. 1)

The History and Origins of Lenormand

The Lenormand card system has its roots in 18th-century Europe and is named after the famous French fortune-teller, Marie-Anne Lenormand (1772–1843). Though Lenormand herself didn’t create the deck, she gained fame for reading cards for notable figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Josephine. Her reputation as a powerful seer contributed to the spread of card divination under her name.

Interestingly, the deck we know today as the Petit Lenormand actually began as a board game called the Game of Hope, created by a German man named Johann Kaspar Hechtel around 1799. The game was designed for entertainment, but the cards—illustrated with simple, everyday images like the Clover, Ship, and Letter—began being used for cartomancy (fortune-telling with cards). The 36-card Lenormand deck became a divination tool due to its practicality and accessibility, offering insight into daily life and practical matters.

How Lenormand Differs from Tarot and Oracle Cards

If you’re familiar with tarot or oracle cards, you’ll find that Lenormand brings a different energy to the table. Here are a few key differences:

Simplicity and Literal Meanings: Tarot cards often carry deep, symbolic meanings that can be interpreted in many layers. Lenormand, by contrast, is more literal and straightforward. For example, the “Rider” card usually represents news or an arrival, and the “Coffin” signifies an ending or a loss.

Combinations Are Key: While tarot cards are typically read individually or in relation to their positions, Lenormand readings rely heavily on card combinations. The meaning of one card is influenced by the surrounding cards, forming sentences or “stories” that give the reading depth.

Predictive Focus: Lenormand is much more predictive and practical. While tarot is often used for psychological or spiritual insight, Lenormand is designed to provide answers about concrete, real-life events like work, relationships, and daily challenges.

Shorter Deck: Tarot consists of 78 cards, while Lenormand has just 36, making it quicker and often easier to shuffle through.

How to Read Lenormand Cards

1. Focus on Card Combinations

In Lenormand, it’s not just about the meaning of a single card but how that card interacts with others. For instance, the Heart card on its own represents love and emotions, but paired with the Rider, it might suggest the arrival of a new love or emotional news. Pay attention to the flow of meanings when you read.

2. Start Small with Simple Spreads

The Three-Card Spread is a great place to begin. In this spread, the cards form a sentence-like structure, where each card adds context and detail to the others. For example, Man + Heart + Letter might indicate that a man is going to express his feelings through a message or letter. Once you’re comfortable, you can move on to the Nine-Card Spread, which provides more detail about a situation. For more advanced readers, the Grand Tableau, which uses all 36 cards, gives an in-depth view of various aspects of life.

3. Ask Clear, Direct Questions

Lenormand thrives on specific questions. Instead of asking something open-ended like “What does the future hold?” you might ask, “What can I expect from my job in the next three months?” This allows the cards to offer more focused guidance.

4. Key Cards to Know:

Rider: News, messages, movement.

Clover: Luck, opportunities, short-term joy.

Ship: Travel, business ventures, long journeys.

House: Home, family, stability.

Coffin: Endings, losses, or transitions.

These are just a few examples, but as you work with the cards, you’ll get to know their meanings and how they apply to various situations.

5. Journal Your Readings

Keep track of your progress by journaling your readings. Write down the question, the cards you drew, and your interpretation. Over time, this will help you refine your skills and notice patterns in the card combinations.

~

Lenormand offers a practical, no-nonsense approach to divination that makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced readers. Its focus on clear answers, card combinations, and everyday situations provides an excellent tool for gaining insight into life’s questions. If you’re looking for a straightforward and predictive system that balances well with tarot or oracle readings, Lenormand is a great place to start.

Happy reading!

[fangirlingpuggle]

Ok so I have just had many thoughts about Seraphim Crocodile and the Crocodile is Luffy's other parent theory and this was a theory idea but also got kinda in fic prompt/au because I have a lot of thoughts and feelings.

So Luffy meeting Seraphim Crocodile and Luffy not only getting an insight into younger Crocodile but also just looking at Seraphim Croco who looks so sad and reserved where the others seem to mirror a lot of their perspective warlords. Just them almost mirroring Luffy's hate of being alone. Luffy relating to Croco and being reminded of his younger self and their being clear parallels between them (maybe even having him put hat on Seraphim Crocodile) while going top seat the fuck out of CP0 or whoever. Because Luffy like this is my little brother/ sorta kid now.

But also while thinking about this thought about other reactions/interactions and just Zoro meeting Seraphim Mihawk and kid actually going all feral Zoro mode on him 'FIGHT ME' and Zoro's just like 'Whose feral angry child is this' and it's like reverse of Mihawk and Zoro's first meeting.

Zoro:Fucking hell I'm not going to go fight a kid that's crazy

Zoro: i could kill you brat stop being stupid

And everyone especially Sanji and all those and the Baratie are just giving Zoro a look.

And then when the Strawhats leave 2 of the Seraphim going with them Crocodile and Mihawk. And them taking on the cabin boy roles mirroring Shanks and Buggy. (Though less cabin boy work more Mihawk not leaving Zoro alone and trying to get him to fight him and Crocodile following Luffy around or learning sharp shooting form Usoop (because yes also pulling in my theory Crocodile was a sharp shooter before losing his hand))

Also had a theory Crocodile used to be a D before changing his name after he transition but rather that it being his old name if Seraphim Crocodile choose the name Crow D El or something because if Luffy ended up adopting a kid of course they'd have the will of D. But also Seraphim Mihawk going just by Hawk and it working cause of the dark wings both have. (Though Sanji just calls him Mini Marimo)

But all this mostly because just imagine Crocodile and Mihawks reaction in the cross guild when they see mini versions of themselves with their student/surrogate son and actual son who doesn't know he's kid yet.

Both ex warlords just blue screen because what the fuck?

Also Law meeting back up and Luffy just like 'Hey Torao we have a kid now here, Sanji and Zoro got one to here' and Law is so so very confused. He's still coming to terms with the fact he has feelings for Luffy whereas Luffy believes they've been pirate married since Punk Hazard and has now adopted them a kid.

[viiioca]

Estelle de Laussienne

B A S I C S

Name Estelle de Laussienne (born Fauconnier)

Nicknames None in regular use; her adoptive brother uses "Essie" to get under her skin.

Age 24 (ARR) - 30 (Dawntrail)

Nameday 17th Sun of the 5th Astral Moon

Race Half Sea Wolf Roegadyn / Half Midlander Hyur

Gender Cis female

Orientation Bisexual

Profession Chirurgeon. She's a woman of many roles and skills, but only one professional license, though in another life -- say, in a non-WOL AU -- she might have wound up the Scions' "diplomatic advisor" (crisis manager and fixer).

P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair Black; as of the end of Shadowbringers, salt-and-pepper with a shock of white in her bangs. Coarse curls are courtesy of her roegadyn heritage. She has never cut her hair ("long hair is a woman's glory" and all -- have you seen Halone's? You cannot convince me there's nothing in Halonic scripture about it) and mostly wears it pinned in complex updos.

Eyes A dark violet, inherited from her father.

Skin A light, rainy-day grey inherited largely from her mother, with her father's cool pink undertones.

Tattoos/scars Being a healer -- and a terrible patient -- Estelle has few scars of her own, as she takes care of her own injuries and prides herself in the sort of detailwork in her physicking that reduces or prevents scarring. Which means the ones she does have are from the wounds she was too incapacitated to heal herself, gnarly clusters of keloids and ragged hypertrophic slashes from effective but graceless emergency healing: sternum to hip from the fight with Elidibus at Ghimlyt; side to side across her belly from the fight with Zenos at the end of creation; and her oldest, a mottled burn scar around her left shoulder and collarbone from the dragon attack that took her parents. She keeps them glamoured when able and looks at them as little as possible.

F A M I L Y

Parents

Hermine Fauconnier Her roegadyn mother; the seneschal and right hand woman of House Laussienne, Hermine was in charge of its books, employees, and trade logistics, and her service in return won her family as stable, secure, and comfortable a lifestyle as a lowborn could wish for outside of the Church. Deceased.

Renaut Fauconnier Her hyuran father; a chirurgeon formerly of the Hospitaliers who transitioned into rural medicine as a traveling physician once he tired of the battlefield. Deceased.

Perette de Laussienne Her adoptive elezen mother; the head of House Laussienne and a shark in the waters of Ishgard's nobility who raised Estelle like she was her own daughter. For better or worse, Perette taught her much of what she knows. Deceased.

Siblings

Verain de Laussienne Estelle's adoptive brother. While they had a good relationship in their youth, a wedge formed not long into their teenage years when it became clear his mother's favor rested with a lowborn halfbreed. Still alive and currently head of House Laussienne, having been unceremoniously handed the reins when Estelle suddenly left Ishgard -- a fact that has done nothing to repair the rift between them.

Grandparents

None still living.

In-laws and Other

Over time, Estelle develops no shortage of family-like relations: Edmont, who regards her as a daughter; Alphinaud and Alisaie and Ryne, the little siblings she never had; the Scions, living together like a colony of stray cats. (And, though this is quite far in the future and something she would not want to think too much about even then, Lyna would technically be her daughter-in-law. The absolute dawning horror the first time Lyna calls her "grandmother" as a jest.)

Pets

Animals tend to like Estelle more than Estelle likes the concept of caring for an animal long-term, especially with how much she travels. The absolute closest she comes to owning a pet is spoiling the Rising Stones' resident ratcatchers.

S K I L L S

Abilities

Arcanima The cornerstone of her combat abilities and field "healing" (more like Preventative Medicine), which branches out into Allagan summoning as she spends the years between Heavensward and Dawntrail refining equations based on primal waveforms.

Medicine This includes everything in the typical Eorzean chirurgeon's skillset -- everything from general practice to surgery to autopsy is on the table (hah) -- as well as an alchemical background to synthesize and administer basic pharmacological treatments.

"Politics" The catch-all umbrella for her social skillset, Estelle relishes the networking, information gathering, and strategic maneuvering required to throw one's weight around in powerful circles.

Hobbies

Languages Though the Echo translates for her, it's still a rare and special skill regarded with suspicion in most corners of the world. Estelle enjoys picking up what she can of the local language in her travels to put people more at ease, especially as she wanders out to more rural locations.

Sketching/watercolors A skill picked up in a previous relationship, though her fondness for it far outlived her fondness for her lover. She finds it relaxing to draw and paint the sights in her travels, and she keeps extensive journals.

Cooking A domestic skill cultivated to a high level in the interest of being a "good wife" in her youth, turned into something of an obsession for learning new foods and techniques as she travels the world. Estelle delights in any occasion she has access to a stove and the opportunity to set a lively table.

Piano All young ladies of good breeding learn the arts during their education, and Estelle is no exception, though the piano is the only instrument that stuck. She enjoys playing when she finds the time, and a piano to actually play on.

"New skills" Estelle takes any opportunity to throw herself into doing something badly for the simple joy of trying something new. Most attempts to train for more physical skills like archery and swordplay fall under this category: things she'll likely never take seriously, but she enjoys using these moments to build new connections and relationships with her teachers.

T R A I T S

Most Positive Trait: Her friendliness. Estelle finds it natural to move into the lives of others and share their spaces, joys, grief, and problems; if she doesn't find success, it certainly isn't for a cold demeanor and lack of goodwill.

Most Negative Trait: Oh we've got a whole answer for this one. There is only so much friendliness can accomplish when Estelle does not accept the vulnerability of real connection.

L I K E S

Colors: Contrary to her severely black and mostly monochrome wardrobe, Estelle most enjoys dramatic, rich jewel tones and soft pastels.

Smells: The complex layers of an expensive, well-made perfume; fresh-cut jonquils; the chaos of food stalls in an open-air market; aspen woods in a crisp, fresh snow

Textures: Soft furs; the inner lining of a favorite pair of gloves; the smooth gloss of lacquered wood; the weighted feedback of ivory piano keys.

Drinks: A glass of well-aged dry red wine; coffee in the Ul'dahn style, unfiltered and highly sweetened, flavored with cardamom; Ishgardian tea, strong black leaves dressed with bergamot, steeped directly in hot milk and sweetened with buckwheat honey.

O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: Yes, infrequently, and never socially; in times of high stress, she will smoke exactly one (1) cigarette when alone and thinking very deeply on something she wish she did not have to think deeply about, or when she needs to aggressively work over a problem in her mind. She's picky about her tobacco and prefers a Hannish clove-spiced blend. (Her case holds 20 cigarettes and the only time she's had to refill it because she's simply run out is during Endwalker.)

Drinks: Yes! All the time. I imagine Ishgard has a very robust drinking culture woven into most social rituals (alcohol features more prominently in Heavensward than nearly any other expansion except perhaps Endwalker) and Estelle is a very social creature. Of course there's an aperitif! And of course there is a glass or two of wine with dinner. And of course there must be a digestif. And of course there will be a nightcap as the evening winds down. She likely consumes more alcohol in a year than the rest of the Scions combined, and that includes that era where Thancred was getting trashed regularly to avoid coping with the Lahabrea situation. That said, she very rarely drinks alone, and almost never drinks with the intention to get inebriated.

Drugs: Nothing hard, but if someone hands her a bhang thandai during a festival in Radz-at-Han she's not going to turn it down.

Mount Issuance: For the same reasons Estelle doesn't keep a pet, she also doesn't keep a mount; she prefers to take carriages and ferries and airships, ride along with caravans, or rent chocobos. When she needs a pair of wings or to go somewhere she would feel guilty bringing a live animal, she relies on the sliver of his aether that Midgardsormr left with her to summon his form much the same way she might summon an egi.

Been Arrested: Estelle has spent most of her life being a law-abiding citizen. The amount of laws she's broken in the line of duty has spiked rather dramatically since joining the Scions, of course, as it turns out that subversive operations and overthrowing heads of state is illegal in those states, but good luck arresting her.

thank you for the tags @oneiroy, @ubejamjar, @ahollowgrave, and @idalenn!! i actually did a tag thing this time i did it i did the thing i was tagged to do

tagging……..@astralflows @menphinaswhitemage @archaiclumina @yloiseconeillants @rhotdornn @angelinecarax @fairygodpiggy @ilbers @mostlystarsandcandybars @caorann8 @morgana96 -- and anyone who hasn't been tagged yet!! i wanna read your lore

[lilliths-httyd-blog]

tigress is one of my favourite aspects of KFP 2. for a story about healing and acceptance, she really is out here having never found inner peace, still grappling with her demons, very clearly reacting to certain things in part due to trauma response. and she's never faulted for any of this.

i don't like the whole "you must accept your trauma and heal from it and forgive and just not let it affect you anymore" narrative of a lot of media (i think the message ultimately does more harm than good), and KFP 2 comes really close to fitting into this narrative. like, po's lesson is that in order to find peace he has to accept who he is, and to do that he has to confront and come to terms with his trauma. the "forgiveness" part of the message is far less solid — on one hand, of course po is going to offer Genocide Bird a second chance because he's po of course that's something he'd do (and also it transitions so perfectly into shen's final gambit and i'm like.... yeah go panda go). but on the other hand, it's such an absurd thing to do, realistically, that nobody is really going to take that as the main moral. so i don't count it as a "forgive the people who traumatised you" story. nobody is going to realistically forgive someone like shen. it's just po being po (a sweetheart).

it's made pretty clear when you read between the lines that this whole arc is pretty much something exclusive to po. shifu, shen, tigress, mr. ping, even soothsayer to a degree all are dealing with their own traumas/anxieties/scars in one way or another, and not all of them are shown to heal nor can all of them forgive (TIGRESS TIGRESS TIGRESS OHHH MY GOSH I LOVE TIGRESS). and that's a very realistic thing. not all scars fade. po might've said so but then shen immediately proved him wrong. not all scars can fade. you didn't ever see po's dad forgiving shen. look at all those villagers cheering when po defeated him. soothsayer very clearly loved shen until the moment he died, and she still called him out on all his bullshit and never forgave him for, uh, Genocide.

the film focuses on po's healing journey because he's the face of the franchise and that's like. obviously what they're gonna do. but they present so many different characters in all kinds of situations; po isn't the only one you're allowed to relate to. if you can't fit into po's shoes, then try mr. ping or tigress or shifu. it's alright if your journey looks different, because there are so many different journeys to take. "Some choose to mediate for fifty years in a cave just like this, without the slightest taste of food or water".

in fact, the only character to be faulted for the way they dealt with their trauma is shen because the way he chose to deal with trauma was to try to kill everyone and take over all of china (not productive).

aaaaagh there's just so much nuance here, i love it so much

[eeveecraft]

This Blog's Stance on Radqueers

Just had to block an account saying that you can't be pro-endo but be against radqueers. Why? Well, I recently discovered what a radqueer is, and I'd like to enlighten you, so you don't make the mistake of mistaking them for something they're not.

What's a Radqueer?

Well, if we input that question into a search engine:

The fact that the fucking MAP Wiki pops up as the third result is already concerning!

This is what the Radqueer Wiki states:

Radqueer is the term used to refer to a radical political movement that advocates for paraphiles, transids, and other ostracized identities to be accepted in mainstream queer spaces. The term was originally coined in late 2021 by now deactivated Tumblr user foucault-divine-mephisto as a response to "the puritanism, hypocrisy and general rejection in the Queer community regarding a range of marginalized and stigmatized Queersexualities (paraphilias), internal identities (transage, transabled, transill/transnoso, transpecies, alterhumans/transnonhuman etc) and behaviours (social, sexual eccentricity etc). " Since its original coinage in 2021, the community made a steady increase in popularity, though never branching out of obscurity.

Oh? Paraphilias? You mean... as the National Library of Medicine defines it:

Paraphilias are persistent and recurrent sexual interests, urges, fantasies, or behaviors of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or even situations that are atypical in nature. Although not innately pathological, a paraphilic disorder can evolve if paraphilia invokes harm, distress, or functional impairment on the lives of the affected individual or others. A total of eight Paraphilias are listed in the DSM V and include pedophilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual sadism, sexual masochism, frotteurism, fetishism, and transvestic fetishism.[1]

If you thought zoophilia was missing, don't worry, it's under "Other specified paraphilic disorder," as stated in this Advances in Psychiatric Treatment paper.

Oh. Yeah, including those paraphilias. So... why are we wanting to allow people with conditions that makes them far more likely to hurt children and animals into queer spaces? And if you think the Radqueer Wiki isn't also including paraphilic disorders in the definition, well, here's one of the definitions from the good ol' MAP Wiki:

RadQueer is unconditionally inclusive of: ALL trans-x/transid identities (and supports all their social and medical transitions) ALL paraphilias and the multiplicity of their related contact stances (anti-contact, complex-contact, neutral-contact, restricted-contact, pro-contact). — Pro-c’s on “potentially harmful paraphilias” (if acted upon) are completely welcomed in the RadQueer community if they stay behaviorally non-offending/non-active. Ex-offenders are welcomed too! Debating on contact stances is totally acceptable as long as it doesn’t directly incites to committing offenses ~

Oh? You're skeptical because that's from the goddamn MAP Wiki? Fair enough. This one's from Radqueer Info's carrd:

Here's more elaboration from their FAQ:

So, to summarize: a radqueer is someone who is accepting of ALL paraphilias, including paraphilic disorders, and other "controversial" identities. There's other things they accept that are eyebrow-raising at minimum, but let's stay on topic.

Why is This Bad?

Let me make it clear, as the National Library of Medicine stated, paraphilias are not inherently harmful. It's paraphilic disorders like pedophilia and zoophilia where it leads to the harm of others or the person with the disorder is when it becomes an issue. Being accepting of paraphilic disorders can normalize these behaviors and also convince the person with the disorder that they don't need help. This is like MAPs saying fucking pedophilia belongs under the queer umbrella, and hopefully, you all know why that is a massive fucking NOPE.

Conflating queerness with literal disorders that compel a person to harm children, animals, and/or non-consenting adults is quite frankly, fucking insulting. Being queer does NOT make you more likely to harm others, it does NOT urge you to harm others. A grown dude consensually having sex with another consenting grown dude is NOT the same as a grown man violating a child, period, I can't believe I have to fucking state this.

And just to draw back to my original statement, this is also NOT the fucking same as being pro-endogenic. Endogenic systems, like queer people, are NOT more likely to harm others because they're endogenic. Does me having five Dragons in my head make me more likely to torture some non-consenting person for sexual gratification? No. But if I'm sexually attracted to such a prospect, then yes, that makes it more likely for me to do it.

Notice the language I've used throughout this post, I'm saying having these disorders makes you more likely to engage in harmful behaviors, it does NOT guarantee someone with these disorders WILL do these horrible things. Experiencing attraction is not a crime, nor do thought crimes exist, but acting on this attraction is. A pedophile is not an inherently evil person, but they become one when they act on their attraction and ruin a child's life for good. Same goes with other paraphilic disorders.

Instead of being allowed into the queer community and offered the same acceptance as non-disordered identities, these people should be redirected into getting treatment and help before they do end up causing irreversible harm. However, if they haven't done any harm, they shouldn't be demonized and harassed. Harassing and demonizing these people just causes them to recede further into harmful thinking and behaviors, and it will cause them to seek solace with other people who will encourage that thinking (Think of the "MAP Pride" movement as reference).

And especially with "accepting" these paraphilic disorders, it allows communities based around them to form, which allows echo chambers to form that can make someone with a paraphilic disorder even MORE likely to become a perpetrator. It's like being around a bunch of binge drinkers. If you're around a bunch of binge drinkers for long enough, you're far more likely to start binge drinking yourself.

So yeah! You can absolutely be pro-endogenic and anti-radqueer. I'm anti, "Allowing people who are at higher risk for harming people on the same level as queer people." Like, do you not see how harmful of a connotation that is? It's equating queerness to literal disorders, harmful disorders at that. And after all the queer community's done to prove we AREN'T disordered/inherently harmful, conflating that with paraphilic disorders that are defined by harm is such a slap to the face.

Conclusion

There's other issues with the radqueer label that I could bring up, but this post is long enough as it is, and I hope the stuff I have listed is enough reason already to not like this label. It is important to be inclusive, but not inclusive to the point where innocent people are harmed because of it. Now that I know what radqueer actually is, I'm definitely concerned by their presence in the endogenic tags, and I don't think it's a good idea to welcome them with open arms.

If we happen to have any radqueer followers, I really hope you read this post in full and see where I'm coming from. If you still don't agree, you're free to unfollow! I don't want people who are fine with allowing people with paraphilic disorders in queer spaces instead of encouraging them to get help following this blog.

7-19-2024

[talonabraxas]

The Secret of the Golden Flower Talon Abraxas

A MAGIC SPELL FOR THE FAR JOURNEY

Master Lu Tzu said: Yu Ching has left behind him a magic spell for the Far Journey:

Words crystallize the spirit in the place of power. The sixth month the white snow is suddenly seen to fly. The third watch the disk of the sun sends out shining rays. The water blows the wind of gentleness. Wandering in Heaven, one eats the spirit-power of the receptive. The deeper secret within the secret: land that is nowhere, that is the true home.

These verses are full of mystery. The meaning is: The most important thing in the Great Meaning is the four words: non-action in action. Non-action prevents a person from becoming entangled in form and image (substantiality). Action in non-action prevents a person from sinking into numbing emptiness and a dead nothingness. The effect is in the two eyes. The two eyes are like the pole of the Great Wain which turns the whole of creation; the cause the poles of Light and darkness to rotate. The Elixir depends from beginning to end on the One; the metal in the middle of the water, that is, the lead in the water-region. Heretofore we have spoken of the circulation of the Light, indicating thereby the initial release which works from without upon what lies within. This is to aid one in obtaining the Master. It is for the pupils in the beginning stages. They go through the two lower transitions in order to gain the upper one. After the sequence of events is clear and the nature of the release is known, Heaven no longer withholds the Meaning, but reveals the ultimate truth. Disciples keep it secret and hold to it strictly!

The circulation of the Light is the inclusive term. The further the work advances, the more can the Golden Flower bloom. But there is a still more marvelous kind of circulation. Til now we have worked from the outside on what is within; now we tarry in the center and rule what is external. Hitherto, it was a service in aid of the Master; now it is a dissemination of the commands of this Master. The whole relationship is now reversed. If one wants to penetrate the more delicate regions by this method, one must first see to it that the body and heart are completely controlled, that one is quite free and at peace, letting go of all entanglements, untroubled by the slightest excitement, with the Heavenly Heart exactly in the middle. Then let one lower the lids of the two eyes as if one received a holy edict, a summons to the minister. Who would dare disobey? Then one illumines the house of the abysmal (water) with both eyes. Wherever the Golden Flower appears, the true Light of polarity goes out to meet it. The principle of that which adheres to (lightness), is light outside and dark within; it is the body of the creative. Darkness enters and becomes master. The results is that the heart (consciousness), becomes dependent on things, is directed outward, and is tossed about on the stream. When the rotating Light shines within the heart, it does not become dependent on things, the power of the dark is limited, and the Golden Flower shines with concentration. It is then the collected Light of polarity. Things that are related attract each other. Thus does the polarity Light-line of the abysmal press upward. It is not only the Light in the abyss, but it is creative Light meeting creative Light. As soon as these two substances meet each other, they unite inseparably, and unceasing life begins; it comes and goes, and rises and falls of itself, in the house of primordial power. One is aware of effulgence and infinity. The whole body feels lighter and would like to fly. This is the state of which it is said: Clouds fill the thousand mountains. Gradually it (life) goes here and there quite quietly; it rises and falls imperceptibly. The pulse stands still and breathing stops. This is the moment of true creative unity, the state of which it is said: The moon gathers up the ten thousand waters. In the midst of this darkness, the Heavenly Heart suddenly begins a movement. This is the return of the one Light, the time when the child comes to life.

But the details of this must be carefully explained. When a person looks at something, listens to something, eyes and ears move and follow the things until they have passed. These movements are all underlings, and when the Heavenly ruler follows them in their tasks, it means: To live together with demons.

If now, during every movement and every moment of rest, a person lives together with people and not with demons, then the Heavenly ruler is the t rue man. When he moves and we move with him, the movement is the root of Heaven. When he is quiet and we are quiet with him, this quietness is the cave of the moon. When he continues to alternate movement and quietness, one ought to go on with him unceasingly in movement and quietness. If he rises and falls with inhaling and exhaling, we must rise and fall with him. That is what is called going to and fro between the root of Heaven and the cave of the moon.

When the Heavenly Heart still preserves calm, movement before the right time is a fault of softness. When the Heavenly Heart has already moved, the movement that follows afterwards, corresponding with it, is a fault or rigidity. As soon as the Heavenly Heart is stirring, one must immediately mount with all one's feeling to the house of the creative. Thus the Light of the spirit sees the summit that is the leader. This movement is in accord with the time. The Heavenly Heart rises to the summit of the creative, where it expands in complete freedom. Then suddenly it wants the deepest silence, and one must lead it speedily and with one's whole being into the yellow castle. Thus the eyes behold the central yellow dwelling place of the spirit.

When the desire for silence comes, not a single thought arises; he who is look ing inward suddenly forgets that he looks. At this time, body and heart must be left completely free. All entanglements disappear without trace. Then I no longer know at what place the house of my spirit and my crucible are. If a man wants to make certain of his body, he cannot get at it. This condition is the penetration of Heaven into earth, the time when all wonders return to their roots.

The One is the circulation of the Light. If one begins, it is at first scattered and one tries to collect it; the six senses are not active. This is the care and nourishment of one's own origin, the filling up of the oil when one goes to receive life. When one is far enough to have gathered it, one feels light and free and need take no further trouble. This is the quieting of the spirit in the space of the ancestors, the taking possession of former Heaven.

When one is so far advanced that every shadow and every echo has disappeared, so that one is quiet and firm, it is safe within the cave of power, where all that is miraculous returns to its roots. The place is not changed but divides itself. It is incorporeal space where a thousand and ten thousand places are one place. The time is not changed, but divides itself. It is immeasurable time when all the eons are like a moment.

As long as the heart has not attained complete peace, it cannot move itself. One moves the movement and forgets the movement; this is not movement in itself. Therefore it is said: If, when stimulated by external things, one is moved, it is the instinct of the being. If, when not stimulated by external things, one is moved, it is the movement of Heaven. The being that is placed over against Heaven, can fall and come under the domination of the instincts. The instincts are based upon the fact that there are external things. They are thoughts that go on beyond their own position. Then movement leads to movement. But, when no idea arises, the right ideas come. That is the true idea. If things are quiet and one is quite firm, the release of Heaven suddenly moves. Is this not a movement without purpose? Action in inaction has the same meaning.

As to the beginning of the poem, the first two lines refer entirely to the activity of the Golden Flower. The two next lines are concerned with the mutual interpenetration of sun and moon. The sixth month is the adhering fire. The white snow that flies, is the true darkness of polarity in the middle of the fire sign, that is about to turn into the receptive. The third watch is the abysmal water. The sun's disk is the one polar line in the sign for water, which is about to turn into the creative. In this is contained the way to take the sign for the abysmal and the way to reverse the sign for the adhering fire. The following two lines have to do with the activity of the pole of the Great Wain, the rise and fall of the whole release of polarity. Water is the sign of the abysmal; the eye is the wind of softness. The light of the eyes illumines the house of the abysmal, and controls there the seed of the great Light. "In Heaven" means the house of the creative. "Wandering, in Heaven, one eats the spirit-power of the receptive." This shows how the spirit penetrates the power, and how Heaven penetrates the earth; this happens so that the fire can be nourished.

[adrinoir]

Headcanon: Adrien Agreste is Trans? (Part 6)

First things first: Happy pride month to everyone in the community!

If you’ve followed my blog for a while or fallen down the rabbit hole of this headcanon at some point, you’ll know I’ve supported it for a long time. Sooo, welcome to part 6 of the Adrien being trans headcanon.

Here are the other parts of this headcanon if you’d like to read those: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5

Usual disclaimer: this is just for fun! Obviously cis boys can have these same qualities and traits. Don’t take it too seriously. These are all just things I’ve noticed. Also, I use the term "sentibeings" vs "sentimonsters" because I personally feel the canon term has a negative, dehumanizing connotation - please keep that in mind, too!

Sentibeings develop their own lives & identities

I feel like this shouldn't have to be said, but in case anyone feels Adrien being a senti-human debunks the hc, I'm writing this as an important reminder. Although they were developed through a miraculous power, Adrien, Felix, and Kagami are very much still human. Felix has made it clear that people of his kind are dehumanized, seen as "monsters," and taken advantage of which is something that upsets him greatly, and rightfully so.

This in itself is sadly something a lot of trans people can relate to. We're often dehumanized for not being "normal" and having unique/different identities in comparison to cis people who identify with their assigned birth gender.

But, I do want to focus more on the fact that sentibeings who were developed into humans are humans, meaning they develop and function the same way all humans do because this is important when talking about this hc. Adrien can still very much be trans considering he's a human with his own life and identity.

Felix had the dramatic presentation of him and Adrien's life story. Yes, he addressed Adrien being a boy the whole time, but also consider that he's going to respect his cousin's identity if he is trans. If this headcanon was in fact canon, Adrien would very much be closeted, and it isn't up to Felix to reveal his identity to others. Saying Adrien was born and raised a girl would not have added anything to the backstory, anyhow.

Gabriel could be controlling for other reasons, too

As we are all aware, Gabriel is a very controlling parent. We're directly shown that he's this way because Adrien is a sentibeing who he can control through his ring, and he's an evil, narcissistic person who doesn't care about others, including his own son. However, it is very much possible that there are other underlying reasons why he's as controlling as he is, let alone towards his own son. Like, why would he not love his own son?

There could obviously be hundreds of underlying reasons why Gabriel is so careless and controlling, but one of them could be that he may not love his son since he's trans. I briefly mentioned in part 3 of the hc that Gabriel could be unaccepting of Adrien being trans, so I'm going to build off of that.

Gabriel may not have always been quite as controlling and neglectful. Maybe before Adrien transitioned, he was a gentler, more caring father. However, we're shown in Wishmaker (yes, I know I always reference this episode lol) from Adrien's perspective, that his parents have always had certain expectations of him, most of which he's followed. So, if Adrien went against their expectations and transitioned to be their son instead of their daughter, that could've easily set Gabriel off (maybe even Emilee too, for all we know).

Why does Adrien tolerate the way Gabriel treats him?

To build further off of my last section, Adrien is aware of his father's terrible behavior and accepts it for what it is throughout a good portion of the series. But, why does he tolerate and accept it? There could be many reasons why, but I'm going to focus on two particular possibilities.

First of all, I also mentioned in part 3 that Gabriel seems like the type who'd gaslight Adrien, saying things like, “you have it so good here! I didn’t kick you out and I use your right name and pronouns!" If he is like that, that could be what makes Adrien so tolerable of his controlling behavior. He may allow this neglect and control because his father is "accepting" of his identity, enough to use the right name and pronouns.

OR, maybe Adrien thinks his behavior is acceptable due to internalized transphobia. Internalized transphobia is sadly a very common thing trans people experience. If this is something he feels, he may think it's right of his father to be unaccepting because "trans people (like me) are not worthy of others' acceptance."

Adrien's vision of the ideal man

This is another thing I've talked a bit about, but I think it's important to talk about in depth.

We see Adrien in many different identities. The ones I'm going to focus on in particular are himself, Cat Noir, and Cat Walker.

Adrien seems to have this idealistic vision in his mind of what an ideal man is supposed to be like. When he plays his role as Cat Noir, he's very over-the-top: flirtatious, strong, protective, destructive. It doesn't mirror how he acts normally, which as we see is the version of him that conforms to most of his parents' expectations. And, when he plays the role of Cat Walker -since he got the sense that Cat Noir was neither an ideal man nor heroic partner for Ladybug- he tones a lot of that down and acts the way he feels she'd like him best for, very laidback, a bit seductive, and helpful, following her ideas.

Why does he have these odd, idealistic versions of what a man should be and tosses his identity around so much? Let me explain.

Adrien hasn't had a good father figure in his life. So he most likely has had to develop this idealistic version of what a man is and follow that, switching it when he has the ability to live his second life as a hero without needing to conform to his father's standards. Adrien wants to be a man but he has no one to follow for that, especially if one of the main reasons for his father's neglect is due to unacceptance of him being trans, Gabriel will hold back as much as possible on being a good father figure and being a positive influence in his growth into manhood.

[tommykinard6]

you know what the actual problem is with 911? that it never set up any ambitions outside of romance for the characters. the entire discussion about "but what about eddie?" just because of bucktommy possibly being endgame highlights once again that none of the characters have long-term goals in life that they want to achieve, something related to any hobbies or careers. they exist and haven't moved anywhere in years as characters. none of them have a defined passion or goal outside their job, and there is no clear trajectory set up for them of where they want to go in life that is not about romantic love or having a family. as soon as you take away the possibility that eddie might be together with buck someday, suddenly it feels like eddies's story is over because what else is left there that people could root for? on paper, he already has achieved everything regarding platonic and romantic and familial love. i beg 911 to finally give the characters goals and allow them to step outside the 118 cage. i know why they haven't yet, but it doesn't make for good television in the long run. the plot cannot keep going in circles or else the show has a real problem. grey's anatomy, despite all its flaws, did this much better because the workplace of choice allowed for continuous development and changing trajectories/careers.

You know what, I actually find this take really interesting and I think I agree for the most part. I think the issue with moving people forward career wise is that means we face the possibility of losing cast. Like if Hen had become a doctor, it would’ve been difficult to keep focusing on her storyline so 9-1-1 is about firefighters, cops, and dispatchers. We don’t go into the hospital unless someone is hurt. Same if someone gets promoted, like Athena, or retires. There will be a huge dynamic shift. We’ve not lost main cast like on other shows, where characters are killed off every season. To have ambition in life often means moving on and I don’t think 9-1-1 quite knows how to play both ends just yet.

Like if firefighters are promoted. Hen would be a great captain, but that would mean losing her at the 118 or having Bobby retire. If she left, Eddie could transition fully into paramedic if he so wished but what if he didn’t? Maybe Ravi? I’m not even sure about what could happen with Chim. Athena could take a promotion to lieutenant but she wouldn’t be on the streets as much. I feel like Maddie has more room for career advancement, maybe into a supervisory position with Josh.

I definitely see what you’re saying and I’m curious to know what other people think

[our-trans-youth-experience]

Ask

This trans youth sent his ask to me via message but has allowed me to share it incase it helps others. Thank you anon :)

Anon: "hey i was just wondering if you had any advice for me. i am a teenage transmasc (not entirely sure about my identity yet) but have been experiencing massive dysphoria around my name and chest and stuff. i cant come out to my parents as they are very transphobic and i may end up being disowned. i feel as though i am trapped in this situation of not being able to come out but unable to be happy like this. i am very sorry for the rant hope you have a good day."

_______________________________________

hey welcome :)

I'm also a transmasc kid in a very similar situation to yours, in fact almost identical, so I can relate.

A few things i recommend:

- If you are friends with some people at school you know will be supportive, maybe try come out to a couple of them MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU ARE NOT OUT TO ADULTS/YOUR PARENTS. It's not much but being called a preferred name and pronouns by even only a couple of people can make a huge difference.

- If you are able to buy your own clothes or choose what you wear (I am not), I recommend using clothing to express yourself and hide your chest. Layering with thinks like jackets and flannel shirts are a great option as they hide your chest and look quite masc. Additionally, i recommend t-shirts with those big, thick plasticky printed designs on them, as they don't flex very easily hiding your chest a little. Straight cut jeans can help hide curves if you get dysphoric about that. And if all else fails, a big hoodie hides everything

- if you are not able to get a haircut and have long hair, i recommend tucking it in a hat like a beanie to give the appearance of short hair. If it is long enough, you can even flip it over and make it look like a sort of fringe.

- If you wear makeup, or are open to doing that, there are plenty of masculine makeup tutorials out there which can really help make your face appear more masc

- In terms of a binder, I assume that like for me that is not an option. However, layering sports bras can be alright for now. Just make sure to be safe with it, don't size down, and stop if it restricts your breathing at all.

DO NOT attempt to come out to your parents if doing so may put you in any danger. When you are an adult, you can leave home, transition, and be happy. It will get better, I promise <3